Computing-scale.



L. C. WETZEL.

COMPUTING SCALE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1907.

. 938,096. Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

59 55 z 2 M5685, J22 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS C. WETZEL OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGN OR T0 TOLEISO COMPUTING SCALE COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMPUTING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

- To all whom oltmay concern:

Be it known thatl, LEWIS C. WVETZEL, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing- Scales, of which the following is a specification. i

In computing scales of the pendulum variety it is customary to provide for augmenting the weight of the pendulum so as to increase the weighing capacity of the scales at will and in order to adapt the chart and index hand to either normal or augmented capacity it has been customary to provide two rows of weight numerals on the chart, one made up of twice as many numerals as the other, and to inscribe upon the face of the index hand two parallel rows of price numerals, each numeral of one row being paired with a numeral of twice the yaluc in the other row. Contrasting colors are generally employed to distinguish the.

two rows of weigh, numerals from each other and the two rows of price numerals from each other. The price row representing lesser values is of course used in conjunction with the row of weight numorals representing the augmented weighing capacity of the scales and these two cooperating rows of numerals have the same color while the contrasting color is used for the row of price numerals representing the greater values and for the row of weight numerals representing the lesser or normal weight capacity of the scales. The means for augmenting the counter-balancing properties of the pendulum generally takes the form of a ball weight which may be readily applied to and removedfrom the, pendulum and it is customary to give this ball weight the same color as the row of lesser price numerals and the row of greater capacity Weight numerals. Thus when the ball weight is on the pendulum its color is that of the price and Weight numerals which are to govern in reading the scales. This simple color system has been found to fully satisfy all reasonable requirements in the matter of denoting how the scales shallbe read when used at one weight capacity .or the other. However, in order to remove any possibility "of confusion in the use of the scales by inexperienced or unusually stupid. or design ing persons it has heretoforc been proposed j ttr provide for displaying onlythe row or set'.

of price numerals of the greater values when the extra weight is oil the pendulum and to display only the row or set of numerals of the lesser values when such weight is on the pendulum, thus rendering it impossible for the user to ignore the price numerals whose color alone should suflice to indicate how the scales are to be read. This broad idea is not of the present invention which relates rather to a different way of carrying out the idea than as heretofore done. Thus the resent invention aims to provide for shifting the price numerals by the act of placing the weight upon or of removing the same from the pendulum without regard to any mechanism for so handling the weight, the latter itself directly controlling the shiftable devices. purpose the latter devices are all mounted upon and carried by the pendulum and the index hand and so the user of the scales does not have to concern himself as to any particular disposition of the pendulum or the indexhand as pro-requisite to the placing of the weight upon or its removal from the pendulum.

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate one form of means for carrying out the above-stated object which may, however, be carried out in other ways without necessarily departing from the scope of the invention.

Of saiddrawings" Figure 1 represents part of a computing scale of a well-known type with the present invention applied thereto, this view being for the most part a View of the pendulum and part of the index hand together with the devices for shifting the price numerals, the removable Wei ht being in position upon the pendulum; ig. 3

-1S a rearelevation of the index hand; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary front ele- In furtherance of this vations of the index hand illustrating the display of price numerals when the removable weight is olf and when it is on the pendulum.

The particular type of computin scales to which the invention is shown as applied is that disclosed in De Vilbiss reissue Patent No. 12,029, dated September 9, 1902, and this patent may be consulted so far as the details of construction and particular mode of operation of this type ofscales may be concerned. It will suffice for the purposes of the present specification to briefly designate certain familiar features of this type'of scales. Above a suitable supporting base 1 a scale-beam 2 is arranged in the usual manner, said scale-beam entering a housing 4 and being connected with a dash pot 2 and through the medium of a link 3 with a pivot-piece 3 to which on'the upper side of the pivot there is rigidly secured an index hand 5 and to which on the lower side of the pivot is rigidly secured the stem 8 of a pendulum having a permanently attached weight 9 at its lower end. The index hand as usual extends radially over a chart 6 within a flaring or fan-shaped upper portion of the casing or housing, said chart being made up of concentric rows of computation numerals and two outer rows of weight numerals and the index hand being adapted as the pendulum swings to sweep over this chart. upon the front of such an index hand two vertically extending parallel rows or sets of numerals indicating prices per pound of commodities to be weighed upon the scales and to use one column or the other of such numerals accordin as the ball weight is on or off the pendu um as already explained at the outset of this specification.

In the present instance the index hand itself does not hear such two rows or sets of price numerals but the latter are inscribed upon a strip or bar 10 which is arranged to slide upon the rear side of the index hand. The set of numerals to be consulted when the ball weight is off the pendulum do not follow oneafter another in a vertical row but alternate with the price-numerals which are to be consulted when the ball weight is on the pendulum. The index hand is constructed as usual with 'a series of fingers 11 one for each of the concentric rows of computation numerals on the chart and in the present instance these fingers are made of such length and so spaced apart as to provide intervening openings'12 of sutlicient dimensions to expose to view either of the sets of price numerals but not both, one set being completely hidden by the fingers themselves when the other set is exposed in these openings. The bar 10 is confined at its upper end by a keeper 13 secured on the back i of the index hand as shown in Fig. 3, one of It has been customary to inscribe the securing screws 14 passing through a slot 15 in the bar to properly measure the extent of movement of the latter. At its lower end the bar extends through a slot in an offset portion of the index hand as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and at its lower extremity is jointed to a link 16 which is in turn jointed to one end of a lever 17, the latter being pivoted intermediate its ends to the index hand as shown at 18. To the opposite end of this lever there is jointed a pitman 19 which extends down past the fulcrum of the pendulum and is jointed at its lower end to a sleeve 20 slidingly mounted upon the eudu= lum stem 8. This sleeve has an en arged lower end portion 21 of double conical form. Normally this sleeve rests upon a shoulder provided by an enlargement 22 of the pendulum stem as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the weight of the sleeve being sufficient to maintain this adjustment as the pendulum swings. The size of the enlarged end portion 21 can of course be proportioned to suit requirements in this regard. Under this normal condition the numeral bar 10 is therefore thrust outwardly and maintained at the limit of its movement toward the upper end of the index hand. This results in displaying the price numerals which should be consulted when the scales are weighing at their lower capacity.

The removable weight 23 is of general cylindrical form radially slotted to embrace the stem of the pendulum and take up a osition in axial alinement therewith. The permanent pendulum wei ht 9 is of disk form horizontally disposed and preferably provided with two upstanding pins the shorter one 2% of which is designed to engage a socket in the outside of the removable weight as shown in Fig. 2 and the longer one 2-") of which is ada ted to occupy the radial slot of the remova le weight, the latter being thus held against accidental displacement. On each side of the radial slot the removable weight is beveled or rounded oil' as shown at 26 for engagement with the under-half of the double conical portion 21 of the sleeve 20. The longitudinal dimension of the removable weight is such as to require displacement of the sleeve in order that the said weight may be accommodated upon the permanent weight. As this removable weight is introduced over the permanent weight the beveled or rounded portious 26 act with a camming effect against the conical under-part of the sleeve enlargemeut 21 thereby thrustin the latter upwardly. The pitman 19 is thus caused to rock the lever 17 and draw'down the price numeral bar 10 so that the set of numerals normally displayed will disappear behind the fingers 11 and the other set of numerals will be exposed. Of course when the weight 23 is removed the parts re'sumc thcir'normal :fposition, through the action of gravity. It fiavill-thus be seen that the above-described construction is well adapted to thoroughly fulfil the object primarily stated. As the shifting of the bar and connected parts 5 will have the'etlect of slightly varying the counter-poise of the pivotal structure by which the weighing isdone means are profvided for preventing any such variation from affecting the absolute accuracy of the indication on the chart. To this end a compensating bar 28 is arranged to slide upon the rear side of the index hand in parallelism with the bar 10 and this c nn )ensating bar is connected by a link 29 with the lever 17 on the same side of the latters pivot as the pitman l9 and. thuson the'side opposite that where the link 16 connects. Thus the compensating bar always moves in the opposite direction to the price numeral bar 10. ,c

It follows that any variation in counterpoise of the pivotal weigl'iing structure due to movement of the latter bar toward the pivot can be compensated for by the movement of the bar 28 away from the pivot or fulcrum.

. while as above stated the construction here shown is well adapted to accomplish the object first stated yet it is to be understood tive movement, and means carried by the hand and pendulum and controlled by the removable weight for etl'ecting a relative movement between the index hand and the strip or bar to expose either set of numerals while concealing the other.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip or bar on the index hand bearing two of numerals adapted to be alternately '-.the shiftable strip or bar.

exposed, and actuating devices for said bar carried by the hand and pendulum and con.- trolled by the removable weight.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftablei strip or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately? exposed, a slide-piece on the pendulum controlled by the removable weight, and opera,- tlve connections between said sl de-piece and 4:- In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately exposed, a sliding collar or sleeve on the pendulum controlled by the removable weight, and operating connections between said sleeve and the shiftable bar.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of munerals adapted to be alternately exposed, and a gravity slide-piece on the pendulum o wratively connected with. the shiftablc bar and adapted to be lifted by the removable weight when the latter is applied to the pendulum.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip 'or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately exposed, and a gravitating sleeve or collar on the pendulum operativcly connected with the shifiable bar and having a tapering end portion adapted to be acted upon by the removable weight to, move said sleeve when said weight is applied to the pendulum.

7. in apparatus of the character described, the con'iblnation with an index hand, pendulum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately exposed, a slide-piece on the pendulum controlled by the removable weight, a pitman connected with said slide-piece, a rock-arm connected with said pitman, and connections between the rock-arm and the shiftable bar.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an indexhand, pendulfum and removable weight; of a shiftable strip or bar on the index hand bearing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately exposed, asliding collar .or sleeve on-the pendulum controlled by the removable weight, a pitman connected with said sleeve, a rockarm connected with said pitman, and connections between the rock-arm and the shiftable bar. I

9. In apparatus of the character described& the combination with an index hand, pendu lum and removable weight;v of a shiftabler strip or bar on the index hand bearing two l sets of numerals adapted to be alternately 1 exposed, a gravitating sleeve or collar on the pendulum operatively connected with the shi-ftable bar and having a tapering end portion adapted to be acted upon by the removable weight to move said sleeve when said weight is applied to the pendulum,-a pitman connected with said sleeve, a rock-ar1n connected with said pitman, and connections between the rock-arm and the shiftabl bar.

v10. In apparatus of the character .de- 9,]

rrection in Letters Patent No. 938,096.

scribed, the combination with weighing means having provisions for changing the weighing capacity, and a chart; of an index hand having a series of transverse openings, 5 a strip or bar slidably mounted on said hand and having two sets of numerals alternately arranged and adapted to be alternately exposed through said openings when the strip or bar is shifted, and means for shifting the same as the weighing capacity of the apparatus is changed.

11. In ap aratus of the 'character described, an 1ndex hand having a series of fin ers with o nings bet-ween them, a strip or ar sliding y mounted on said hand and havin two sets of numerals alternately arranged and adapted to be alternately exposed through said openings when the strip or bar is shifted, and means for shifting the same. l

12. In apparatus of the character described, an index 'hand havin a series oftransverse openin s, a stri or ar slidingly .mounted on said and an having two sets of numerals alternately arranged and adapted to be alternately exposed through-the said openings when the stri or bar is shifted, a pendulum compound with said hand, a vslide-piecepn said pendulum, a' removable weight cooperatin with said slideiece, a rock-arm connect with the numera bar or stri and a pitman connecting said arm wi the slide-piece on the pendulum.-

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum and index hand, of a longitudinally movable strip or bar mounted on the latter and bear- I ing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternatel exposed by lon itudinal movement 40 of said ar en hwise t e index arm, a removable endu um weight, means controlled thereby or determining the position of the numeral bar, and a compensating bar also longitudinally movable on the index hand and operatively connected with saidmeans for determinin the position of the numeral bar; substantia ly as and for the purpose described.

scribed, the combination with a pendulum 14. In apparatus of the character deand index hand, of a longitudinally movable strip or bar mounted on the latter and hear ing two sets of numerals adapted to be alternately exposed by longitudinal movement of said bar lengthwise the index hand, a compensating bar also longitudinally move able in the index hand, a removable pendulum weight, a slide-piece on the pendulum adapted to be moved by said removable weight when the latter is a plied to the pendulum, a pitman connecte with said slidepiece, a rockin arm or lever onthe index hand connecte with said pitman and connected on opposite sides of its pivot with the numeral bar and compensating bar respectively.-

15. In computing scales, the combination of a chart having concentric rows of computation numerals, an index hand adapted to sweep overthe same and formed with a series of fingers along one edge and o enin between them, a stri or bar mounte on t e rear side of said in ex hand to slide longitudinally thereof and bearing two sets of price numerals, those of one set alternatin with those of the other and said bar adapt to be shifted from a position where one set ofnumerals shows throu h the openings to a. position where the ot er set shows therethrough, a compensating bar also mounted on the index hand to slide longitudinally thereof, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the index hand, links connecting the numeral bar and the compensating bar respectively with the said lever on opposite sides ofthe latters pivot, a. cndulum compounded with the index han a sleeve slidably mounted on the pendulum and having. a conical enlargement at the lower end, a weight adapted to be removably applied to 9-0 the )endulum below said sleeve and to lift the latter by action against its conical part, and a pitman connecting the sleeve and the beforementioned lever.

- LElVIS C. \VETZEL. \Vitnesses:

C. DE LoN'o, ALLEN DE Vnauss, Jr.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 938,096, granted October 26, 1909, upon the application-of Lewis G. Wetzel, of Toledo, Ohio, for an improvement in Computing-Scales, an error appears in the printed specification rcquirin correction as follows: Page 3, line 3%), theword or should read or; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ottice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of November, A. 1)., 1909,

[snan] E. B. MOORE,

oonmu'ssiuncr n7" Pam-Ms. 

